Page 58 of Pitbull
“You’re right,” Pitbull said. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to let Anke walk out of here. Afterward, Beast is going to go outside and make sure Anke is all right. As for you and I—well, the two of us are going to have ourselves a little chat.”
Penrod backed up, dragging, Anke with him.
Pitbull lifted his right hand and pushed the object that had been all but hidden in his palm up to the tips of his fingers. He turned the grenade, ensuring Penrod could see it. “I really hate repeating myself.” He growled.
It washard for Anke to remains till. She’d never heard Pitbull that angry before. The coldness in his voice sent waves of fear through her. She bit back a whimper threatening to leave her hips. People always told her not to show fear to wild animals. And besides, as long as she had her eyes on Pitbull, the beat of her heart, she was fine.
Then he held up a grenade and her whole world sank
“Pit?” Anke called.
“Shut up!” Penrod screamed, tightening his arm across her throat. “Why couldn’t you have just died like I wanted you to, huh? Shit, women are such fucking pests! They never do what they’re told!”
“Penrod!” Pitbull barked.
The man behind her jerked to. His rambling stopped and the gun against her head shook with his fright. It seemed Pitbull had put the fear of god in him—not enough to let him give up, but enough to make him focus.
How had she managed to get herself into this? All Anke had wanted to do was find her friend. She just wanted to make sure Claudia was okay. Now she was stuck as a pan in a deadly game of Revenge she never wanted to be a part of.
“Ms. Fischer and I are going to take a little walk,” Penrod said, inching to the side and pulling Anke with him.
“That’s funny,” Beast finally spoke. “He thinks he’s getting out of here.
“You do remember how CIRO works, right Penrod?” Pitbull asked.
“Where’s she?” Penrod asked, looking around.
Anke felt it the moment he sunk down behind her and she could feel his breath disgusting against her neck. “Who?” Anke asked.
“The sniper!” Penrod shrieked.
“Women are pests, right, Penrod?” Anke pushed. “They never do as they’re told so maybe Barbie is home sipping on a margarita while watching reality TV. Who knows?”
But Penrod remained hidden behind her. “I know she’s around here somewhere.”
“And the best part of this whole thing?” Beast growled softly from where he stood. “Is the only way you’ll know where she is, is when she sends a bullet through your skull.”
“You seem to know everything about me.” Pitbull tossed the grenade up and caught it. “You remember what I do for CIRO right?”
Anke closed her eyes, expecting a loud bang.
Nothing happened but the soft slap of Pitbull catching the device again.
“I’ll kill her!” Penrod called, tightening his grip around Anke’s neck. “I’ll kill her!”
Pitbull’s eyes darkened. “Let me refresh your memory. I’m the last person on this team you want to make angry.”
“Oh, here we go—is this the whole, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry speech? You’re no Hulk.”
A dark smile traced Pitbull’s lips, scaring Anke to her core.
“You’re right. When the Hulk breaks things, you can usually put them back together.” Pitbull’s voice was hard. “I don’t smash. I make things go boom!”
Pitbull tugged a silver part off the grenade and tossed it. Anke screamed and surged forward while bringing her elbow back—hard. It connected with her captor and though his yowled in pain, she didn’t care enough to look back to see where she hit him. All Anke knew was that suddenly, she was free. Swinging around, she kicked him as hard as she could in his shin then ran to Pitbull. If she was going to die, it would be in his arms.
But no loudbangcame. Instead, Pitbull pushed his body before her own, and lifted a black gun toward a shaking Penrod who know held a grenade in his hand.
“Let’s try this again,” Pitbull said. “Put your hands where I can see them.”
